Automatic trolley switch



Feb. 26, 1929. 1,703,545

R. M. ROBINSON AUTOMATI C TROLLEY SWI TCH Filed Dec. 22, 1925 48 1N VENTOR fa-erf 1f iwmwagf,

I. ATTORNEY Patented Feb, 26, 1929.

unirED STATES PATENT oFFicE.

ROBERT M. ROBINSON, 0F LOUISVILLE7 KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR TO CHEATHAM ELEC- I TRIC SWITCHING DEVICE CO., INC., OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, A CORPORATION 0F KENTUCKY.

AUTOMATIC TROLLEY SWITCH.

Application filed December 22,1923. Serial No. 682,236.

The object of my invention is to provide an automatic switch of this character which will be simple in construction and reliable in operation and not disturbed by cars too close together or by a car standingunder a trolley pan and in which all circuits carrying an arcing current will be broken away from the trolley pan and where a magnetic extin- `guisher will extinguish they are so that all danger of burning the apparatus from this cause is obviated.

This and other objects are accomplished by my invention, one embodiment of which is hereinafter more particularly set forth.

For more particular description of my in vention, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, in which Figure 1 shows a system embodying my improvements.

Figure 2 shows an instrument box with various instruments used in this system.

Throughout the various views of the drawings, similar reference characters designate similar parts.

As is usual in switches of the character' in question, commonly known as Cheatham switches, the bar 14 of the trolley pan 1 has a wire 18 that runs to a controlling relay magnet 19 and this magnet has a second wire 20 which runs to the trolley wire so that whenk a trolley wheel 21 is connecting the bars 14 and 15 and off the trolley wire, any current which the car motors use must pass through the relay magnet 19. The bar 15 will then derive this current from this magnet, and through the bar 14 and current from the bar 15 may reach the ground through a wire 22, armature 23 of a slow release relay 24, wire 25, magnet 26 of a blow out relay, wire 27, resistance 28, wire 29 to ground 30. The bar 15 has two curved ends 13 which function in the separation of the trolley wheel from the trolley wire. The magnet 24 has two coils, one with the usual ohmic resistance of say five hundred or six hundred ohms and another coil 24 preferably on a second core, has a very small resistance say one turn of large copper, short circuited on itself so that when a current is cut olf from flowing through the coil of greater resistance, there will be a reaction inthe coil of low resistance which will prolong the magnetic action of the core and make it hold its magnetism for aperceptible interval of time aft-er the circuit through the magnet 24 is broken.

The coil 26 is the coil of a relay with two armatures 31 and 32, both of which are connected to a wire 33 that runs to the wirey 2() which is connected to the trolley wire 2. Between the armatures and 31 the wire 33 carries a resistance 34 of substantially forty-tive ohms. The wire 33 also runs to an armature 35 below the armature 23 or adjacent thereto and also controlled by. the magnet 24 and making 4a stick relay thereof. l/Vhen this armature 35 isy raised it engages a contact at the end of a wire 36 that runs to a wire 37 which runs to an unlocking contactor 38 adjacent to the trolley wire 2. From the ground 30 the' wire 29 is connected to a wire 39 that runs to a resistance 40 .and from thence a wire 41 runs immediately above the armature 32 and another wire 42, connected to the wire 41 runs to the magnet 24. Above the armature 32 is a second contact which is connected to a wire 43 that runs tothe wire 22 which has been d'escribed above.

The armature 31 below `the magnet 26 is preferably provided with a magnetic blow out 44 and the end of this armature, when raised, engages a wire 45 that runs to a resistance 46 of about thirty ohms, more or less, and this resistance is connected by a wire 47 to an .armature 48 which is immediately below the magnet 19 and controlled lby the same. The upper contact of the armature 48 is at the end of a wire 49 that runs to a holding up coil 50 which has a second wire 5l that runs to a ground solenoid 52 which has a ground wire 53 in the conventional manner. Anad'jacent ground solenoid 54has the same ground wire 53 connected in the same manner and also a wire 55 that runs to the lower contact below the armature 48 and on which itfnormally rests.

' v. An instrument box 56 of the conventional kind is preferably provided so as to protect the various instruments which can be protected in such a box.

In view of the foregoing, the operation of my improved switch system will be readily understood, the parts being assembled, as above described. When a trolley7 wheel reaches a trolley pan 1, while moving in the direction of the arrow. it leaves the wire and rests immediately thereafter onthe sections 13 and 14 and then it leaves the section 13 and-bridges between the sections 14 and 15 Where it passes along until it passes again on to sections 14 and 13 at the other end ot the trolley pan and thence back to the wire. rlhe trolley Wheel 21 ,is on the trolley pan only a brief interval, depending` on the speed ot the car, unless some accident happens which causes the car to stop with the Wheel on the trolley pan. Assumingthat the operation normal and the trolley Wheel 21 is in the position shown and that the track connections, not shown, are as usual, it the motorman applies power to his car so as to energize the relay 19 and thereby raise the a :mature 48. he does not apply power to his car he will not raise this armature. On the assumption that he does apply power to his car, the circuits Will now be traced. First there is a circuit through the magnet 19 ot the relay 'from the trolley Wire through the Wire 20 magnet 19 and Wire 18 to bar 14 and the" ce through the Wheel 21 to the ground and a shunt circuit will go through the bar 15, Wire 22, armatiue 23, (which normally up) wire 25, coil. 26, Wire 27, resista ce 28 to the ground thereby energizing the blow out relay 2G and raising its tivo armatures to close contacts at E2, 4B and 45. As soon as this is done the coil 24 is short circuited because current passes to the ground trom the trolley wires through the wire 20, solenoid 19, Wire 18, bar 14, 'trolley Wheel 21, bar 15, Wire 22, Wire 43, armature 32, Wire 41, resistance 40, Wire 39, and

Wire 29 to ground 30, and so it is deener 'ized but does not immediately become deenergized because of the shortcircuited coil 242L and the dropping ofthe armature 23 and 35 is slightly delayed, say tor half a second.

During the brief interval after the magnet 24 is short circuitedrand before it is deenergizod entirely and While it. holds its armatures 23 and 35, the magnet 26 remains energized through the Wire 22, above mentioned, armature 23, `Vire 25, Wire 27, resistance 28, and Wire 29 to ground and While so energized a current can pass through armature 31 from the trolley Wire 2 to the armature 48, above pointed out, so that the groundmagnet yWill be energized when the armature 48 is raised. llvlhen raised the magnet 50 ener-- gized and so this armature 48 will be held up as long as a current passes through it although the magnet 19 may be deener0` l by the trolley Wheel 21 leaving` the tro,K pan 1. During this interval'the ground solcnoid 52 has time to act and does act to shit the rail, not shown. The circuits closed but an instant,depending on element ot the coil 24 and th i the ai u:

3 and 'tall and open the circuit through the magnet '26 and its armatures 31 and tall and open all circuit, depending` on them ineludine` the circuit through the armature 4S. These remain open until the Wheel 21 thereby agjsiiin energizing the ai griet ll a car passes with pou'er the motors,

the opcrat on is the saine above described, eneoptA n. e magnet 19 is r enough energized to rais the armature 48 so that no eircuit is closed through the Wire 49, but a circuit is closed through the Wire in due son so that the -aleioid 54 is made active and functie s accordingly.

ln view et the torre lng, it will be readily understood that the magnet 24. is designed that the armatures 23 and 35 are held long; enough utter the deener'izing ot the magnet 24 to enable the grounfL solenoid or the seagreund solenoid to function properly so that no matt hou7 rap Aly trolley Wheel n ry traverse the trolley pan, the apparatus will hare tin'ie to function properly and it is also apparent that once the apparatus has functioned, as above forth, and the 'trolley wheel has not reached the contacter 88, the apparatus cannot be ma:` e to operate and will remain inoperative until the contact between the Wheel and part 38 again energize the inagnet 24 so that no car can be derailed by a 'following ear when using this sii/itching device.

lt will be noted thatatter the relay 26 is energized a sticlr circuit is up dii ect from the 'trolley Wire 2 through the wire 20, Wire 33, armature 32, Wire 43, armature Oil, Wire 25, relay 26, Wire 27, resistance il and wire. 29 to the ground.

lllhile l have shown and described one enibodinient ot my invention. it obvious th it is not restricted thereto, but that it broad structures that ui rhsecond mentioned relay., a line oontactor conrelay tor use in re- T At nected to said sleiv r-eleas storing` the apparatus ritter o]V eration, said third relay controlling said slou7 release relay and operating circuits Yfor lthe ground solenoires controlled by said thi relay,

2. ln an electric switch operating device a pair of solenoids, a source of power, a trolley pan, a slow release stick relay normally energized from said source and means for operating said solenoids including a relay connected to said trolley pan and means controlled by said slow release relay to energize said relay.

3. In an electric switch operating device, a pair oic solenoids, a source oit power, a trolley pan, a slow release relay normally energized 'from said source, means for operatingl said solenoids including a relay connected to said trolley pan and means controlled by said slow release relay to energize said relay, means tor shunting said slow release relay to prevent further operation of switch and means including an auxiliary contact and an energizing circuit for said slow release relay adapted to be closed upon contact et' a collector with said auxiliary contact for restoring),` the apparatus alter operation.

4. In an electric switch operating system a pair oi' solenoids, a source of power,a trolley pan, a slow release stick relay connected normally to the source of power, means including` a relay connected to said trolley pan controlled by said slow release relay for directing' current through the said solenoids and means for deenergizing said slow release relay in order to prevent operation ot the switch during the time said slow release stick relay is deenergized. c

5. In an electric switch operating device, a pair ot solenoids, a source of power, a trolley pan, a slow release relay connected normally to the source of power, means including a relay connected to said trolley pan controlled by said slow release relay 'for directing cur-l rent through the said solenoids, means for denergizing said slow release relay in order to prevent subsequent operation of the switch and means including an auxiliary contact and energizing circuit for said slow release relay adapted to be closed upon contact of a collector with said auxiliary contact for restoring the energization of said slow release relay.

6. In an electric switch operating device, a pair ot solenoids for operating a switch, a source of power, a trolley pan, a relay conneeted to said pan, a normally energized slow release stick vrelay connected to said source of power, operating circuits to said solenoids controlled by said slow release relay and said first relay and means tor automatically deenzing said slow release stick relay in order to prevent further operation of said switch operating device during the passage ot a car.

.7. In an electric switch operating device, a pair of solenoids :tor operating a switch, a source of power, a trolley pan, a relay connected to said pan, a. normally energized slow release relay connected to said source of power, operating circuits to said solenoids includ- 4g a relay energized by means controlled by said slow release relay and said tiret relay,

means tor automatically deenergizing saidr slow release relay in order to prevent further operation ot' said switch operating' device during the passage ot a car, and means including aniauxiliary contact orrestoring the energizat-ion ot said slow release relay after the passage of a car.-

8, In an electric switch operating' device, a pair of solenoids, a source ot power, a trolley pan, a selecting relay connected to said trolley pan, a slow release stick relay connected normally to the source olf power, means controlled by said slow release relay for directing' current through the said solenoids comprising an auxiliary relay, means tor dcenergizing said slow release relay by said auxiliary relay and means tor deenergizing said auxiliary relay after said slow release relay becomes deenergized.

l). ln a electric switch operating device, a. pair ot solenoids, a source ot power, a slow release stick relay connected normally to the source of power, means including' a relay enrg'ized by means controlled by said slow release stick relay 'for directing current through the said solenoids, means for deenergizing' said slow release stick relay in order and means for restoring the energization ot said slow release relay.

l0. ln an electric switch operating` systen'i, a pair ot solenoids, a source of power, a. trolley pan, a slow release relay connected normally to the source ot power, means including` a relay connected to said trolley pan controlled by said slow release relay for directing current through the said solenoids, means for deenergizing said slow release relay in order to prevent operation ot the switch during the time said slow release relay is deenergized, means for preventing subsequent energization of said slow release relay, and means including an auxiliary contact tor restoring the system to normal.

11. In an electric switch operating device, a pair oit' solenoids, a source of power, a trolley pan, a selecting' relay connected to said trolley pan, a slow release stick relay connected normally to the source of power, means controlled by said slow release relay for directing current through the said solenoids, an auxiliary relay connected to said trolley pan, means for deenerg'izing said slow release relay by said auxiliary relay, means for deenergizing said auxiliary relay after said slow release relay becomes deenergized, and

Vmeans for restoring the energization of said slow release relay.

l2. In an electric switehoperating device,

ivevent subsequent operation et the-switch y a pair ot' solenoids, a source of power, a trolmeans for operating said solenoide controlled by said auxiliary relay.

13. ln an electric switch operating device, a pair of solenoids, a source of power, a trolley pan, means controlling;v said Solenoids, an auxiliary relay, an energizing circuit for said auxiliary relay connected to said 'trolley pan and controlled by said controlling means and a circuit for said auxiliary relay elmntingg said trolley pan, menne or operating said solenoide controlled by Sai1V auxiliary relay, an auxiliary contact and an energlring circuit Jfor Said controlling means adapted to be cloeed upon contact olf a collector Willi said auxiliary contact lei. In an electric switch operating; device, the combination with llie track col ioid, trolley conductor and Vlzrolley contacter, el? a normally open cir-cnil` conrie/Urine,v the trolley conductor and track solenoid, a circuit closing ineane therein, and means controlled by contact of a trolley with tbc 'irolley contacto: for operating' the circuit cloning` meaux, a relarded release relay controlling said contact control means and adapted to be eliunted by said contact controlled means permitting,` operation of Said circuit cloeing means i'or predetermined tiine whereby the controlling cir cuit or' the circuit closing means will be held opened by said retarded release relay and thereby renderingsaid circuit closing means inoperative against subsequent trolley contacts until lie car lias paceed a cert-ain prede- 'termined reelcringe,` point.

l5. ln an electric switch operating device, the con'ibination with the track solenoid, trolley conductor and trolley contacter, o' a 'normaliy open circuit connecting' the trolley conductor and track Solenoid, a circuit closing' inerme4 therein equipped with an operating coil, an auxiliary normally energized retarded release relay lia-ving two armatures and Separate controlling contaele, one armature controlling` the retarded release relay and one armature.included in the circuit of Said operating coil and mesme` controlled by contact of a trolley with a trelley contacter-for initially energicingl the operating; coil olf tbe circuit closing' means, and cir nit meane for said retarded release relay controlled by Said operatinev coil te prolong' tbe energization of Said operating coil and deenergize the said normally energized retarded release relay the Leby opening; the circuit or said operating coil whereby the circuit closing means Will be inoperative 'until the car has paaeed a certain preileterinined restoring point.

ln testimony whereof, l have hereunto eet iny hand this (5th day of November, i923.

GBERT M. RBLN N. 

